I ate at Bechelli’s once. A scruffy diner open since the 70s on Chestnut Street, outfitted with an old-fashioned horseshoe counter, (p)leather booths and black-and-white tile floors, it was the kind of classic place I wanted to love. Plus, it was shoehorned in the same building as a similarly dusty independent movie theater.

The food was pretty bad though. I’m still not sure how they managed to make sourdough toast taste bad, but lo and behold, they did. So, when Bechelli’s closed last year, part of me was bummed that the city lost a diner with such a gorgeously weathered look and feel, but a bigger part of me understood that it was time for Bechelli’s to either update or move on.

I suppose it would’ve been cool if the new owners — Alvin Garcia and Tom Patella — gave it a Fremont Diner-esque treatment, but they wanted a fresh start. They completely overhauled and gutted the space, leaving little to no remnants of its diner past, except for the ratty green Bechelli’s awning that still flaps above the storefront, presumably until a replacement arrives.

The place is now named Causwells, and bills itself as “a neighborhood American bistro.” Open nightly for dinner (daytime hours to follow later this summer), the menu from chef Adam Rosenblum is divided into small plates ($9.75-$15.75) and larger plates ($14-$21.50), plus a few snacks and sides. Americana is well-represented as well, with popcorn, deviled eggs, Parker House rolls, smoked brisket, dirty rice, and a burger, among others; in a nice tip of the cap to the neighborhood, the dessert menu features a bread pudding made with goods from nearby awesome place All-Star Donuts. And yes, there’s a kale Caesar on the menu, too:

2346 Chestnut Street, between Divisadero and Scott. 415-447-6081 or www.causwells.com